UTME APPLICATION

CT Shorting using ME Series Test Disconnect

Terminal Blocks

CLIPLINE
Application Note
2615B

PHOENIX CONTACT - 3/2015

During testing or troubleshooting procedures, a current

transformer (CT) cannot have its circuit interrupted while
current flows through it. However, the CT needs the circuit
broken to test the transducer or inject a calibration signal.
The ME series of test disconnect terminal blocks and
SB-ME switching bridge are designed to short the CT and
disconnect all power leading to the transducer or measurement devices.
There are three basic configurations of UTME blocks that
can be used to accomplish this task: feed-through only
blocks, a combination of the feed-through and knife-disconnect blocks, and knife-disconnect blocks only. In 3-phase
systems, these configurations can be combined in dierent
designs (see Figures 5 and 7).

Configurations using two MED feed-through terminal blocks

require at least one of the wires to the measurement device
to be disconnected to inject the test/calibration signal. The
wires should only be removed after the outputs of the CT
have been shorted. This is not an eective use of the ME
series of terminal blocks.
A second configuration uses one MED feed-through terminal block, one ME knife-disconnect terminal block, and one
SB-ME 2-8 switching bridge. This configuration can be with
(Figure 3) or without (Figure 2) a ground block.
ON

F1
F2
F3

L1 L2 L3

F4

OFF

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
0

ON

F1
F2
F3
F4

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
0

Simple, 3-phase
transducer test set

5 6
Open

Closed

s1 s2

1 2
Open

Closed

Input

Output

L1 L2 L3

OFF

Output

The first configuration is the most basic, using two MED

feed-through terminal blocks and one SB-ME 2-8 switching
bridge.

s1 s2

s1 s2

Input

Figure 2. One MED feed-through, one ME knife-disconnect and

one switching bridge (configuration 2).

s1 s2

CAUTION
The SB-ME switching bridge must be installed
in the bridging channel on the CT (or input) side
of the terminal block.

Figure 1. Two MED feed-through terminal blocks (configuration 1)

UTME Application
ON

F1
F2
F3

L1 L2 L3

F4

one of the MED feed-through terminal blocks or an MED-PE

and FBS bridge can be added to any of the basic configurations. The FBS push-in bridge is then used to distribute
ground to one of the feed-through or knife-disconnect
terminal blocks.

OFF

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
0

ON

OFF

Output

5 6 7
Open

Closed

F1
F2
F3

L1 L2 L3

F4

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
0

1 2 3 4 5 6

A
B
(Open) (Closed)

s1 s2 s1 s2 s1 s2
s1 s2 PE

Figure 3. One MED feed-through and one ME knife-disconnect

and one switching bridge connected to ground

Input

Input

Output

s1 s2 PE

s1 s2 s1 s2 s1 s2

The third configuration uses two ME knife-disconnect terminal blocks and one SB-ME 2-8 switching bridge (Figure 4).
CT leads are connected to the input side of the ME series
terminal block, and the transducer/measurement device is
connected to the output side.
ON

F1
F2
F3

L1 L2 L3

F4

OFF

Figure 5. Stacked design

The calibration/disconnect process using the design shown

in Figure 5 is accomplished using the following steps.

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
0

Output

1. Loosen the screws on the SB-ME 2-8 and move the

shorting bar from position A to B to short the outputs of
the CT.

5 6 7
Open

Closed
Closed
(shunt up)

Input

s1 s2 PE

s1 s2 PE
Open
(shunt down)

Figure 4. Two ME knife-disconnects and one switching bridge

connected to ground (configuration 3)

The knife disconnects should only be opened after the

outputs of the CT have been shorted.

Figure 6. SB-ME switching bridge

If a ground reference or grounding of the CT output is

required, an MED-PE terminal block can be substituted for

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2615B

UTME Application
2. Secure the shorting bar by tightening the screws. The
CT is now neutralized and the circuit is safe to open.
a. For circuits that include an ME knife-disconnect
terminal block, the knife disconnects can now be
safely opened.
b. For circuits using MED feed-through terminal blocks,
the wire(s) can now be disconnected.
3. The test signal can now be injected into the transducer/
meter side of the circuit by inserting the signal probes
into the test adapters or connecting the signal to the
disconnected wiring of the measurement circuit.
To return the unit to normal operation, perform the above
steps in reverse order:
1. Disconnect the test signal/probes from the transducer
wires or remove probes from the test plugs.
a. For circuits that include the ME, the knife disconnect
must now be CLOSED.
b. For circuits that include the MED feed-through terminal blocks, the wiring must now be reconnected.

Upon selection of the basic configuration, the final design of

the ME test disconnect solution can accommodate various
layouts. For example, Figure 7 shows both feed-through
and knife-disconnect terminal blocks, grouped by type
and bridged together. The CT leads are not paired with
each other. Use the following steps for CT shorting and
calibration.
1. Loosen the screws on the SB-ME 4-8 and move the
shorting bar from position A to B to short all of the CT
outputs at one time.
2. Secure the shorting bar by tightening the screws. All
CTs are now neutralized and the circuits are safe to
open.
3. Open the ME knife-disconnect terminal blocks
switches.
4. The test signal can now be injected into the transducer/
meter side of the circuit by inserting the signal probes
into the test adapters of each measurement circuit.
To return the unit to normal operation, perform the above
steps in reverse order:

2. Open the switching bridge and return to normal

operation.

1. Remove the test/calibration signal probes from the test

plugs.

3. Loosen the screws and move the shorting bar from

position B to A and snap into place.

2. Close the knife disconnects.

4. Tighten the screws to prevent movement and inadvertent shorting of the CT.
The CT measurement circuit is now functional.
ON

F1
F2
F3

L1 L2 L3

F4

OFF

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
0

Linked 3-phase
transducer test set

3. Open the switching bridge and return to normal

operation.
4. Loosen the screws and move the shorting bar from
position B to A and snap into place.
5. Tighten the screws to prevent movement and inadvertent shorting of CT.
The CT measurement circuit is now functional.

Output

A
(Open)
1 2 3 4 5 6

s1 s2 s1 s2 s1 s2

Input

B
(Closed)
s1 s2 s1 s2 s1 s2

Figure 7. Linked design

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2615B

UTME Application

2
3

Figure 8. Components

Table 1 Ordering Data

Description

Type

Order No.

Pcs./Pkt.

Terminal block, knife disconnect, screw connection

UTME 6

3047400

Terminal block, feed-through, screw connection

UTMED 6

3047413

Terminal block, ground block, screw connection

UTMED 6-PE

3047442

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2615B

UTME Application
Table 2 Accessories
Item

2615B

Description

Type Code

Part No.

Test adapter, blue

Test adapter, red
Test adapter, yellow
Test adapter, green
Test adapter, violet
Test adapter, black
Test adapter, brown
Test adapter, gray
Test adapter, orange

PAI-4-FIX BU
PAI-4-FIX RD
PAI-4-FIX YE
PAI-4-FIX GN
PAI-4-FIX VT
PAI-4-FIX BK
PAI-4-FIX BN
PAI-4-FIX GY
PAI-4-FIX OG

3032729
3032732
3032745
3032758
3032761
3032774
3032787
3032790
3034455

Zack marker strip, 10 sections

ZB 8

1052002

Connecting bridge

C-ME 6/2

3034442

Switch lock

S-ME 6

3034439

Plug-in bridge, 2-position

Plug-in bridge, 3-position
Plug-in bridge, 4-position
Plug-in bridge, 5-position
Plug-in bridge, 6-position
Plug-in bridge, 10-position

FBS 2-8
FBS 3-8
FBS 4-8
FBS 5-8
FBS 6-8
FBS 10-8

3030284
3030297
3030307
3030310
3032470
3030323

Switching bridge, 2-position

Switching bridge, 4-position

SB-ME 2-8
SB-ME 4-8

3034468
3034484

End bracket

E/NS 35 N

0800886

Terminal block cover

D-UTME 6

3047426

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